This is not true. It is refuted by every economic historian across the political spectrum. Slavery was bringing only 2-4% profits while manufacturing in the South brought 22%, but still they wouldn’t end slavery.
Slavery has been proven by historians to be effective in manufacturing, mining, and service work. Most of the VA slaves on the eve of the Civil War were in service, not field, work.
In his fantastic book “Freedom National,” James Oakes explains the long evolution of the anti-slavery movement in America that had a two-tiered plan: 1) make a cordon of freedom around the slave states to make slavery unworkable. 2) If the South seceded, use the military solution. What is interesting is that most of those who believed in the former didn’t really think it would work because the state governments in the South supported slavery, it was a closed society with NO challenge to slavery in literature, law, or culture permitted; in VA and other places, freed slaves were ushered out of the state immediately so as to not cause rebellion OR provide a counter-image that blacks were helpless.
No, sorry, the overwhelming evidence in both historical and economic circles is against you.
That is why the TERRITORIES were what the Civil War was all about because of the definition of slavery as property, not people.
You are obfuscating the point, the truth, the reality.
Two % of a billion $ is $20,000,000
While 22% of $10 million is only $2,200,000
And that comparison doesn’t include the investment and improvements in the land
You neglect to take into account the economic benefits TO slaves.
Free room and board. They were housed and clothed and fed and educated.
Not every slave was captured running in the jungle in Africa and chained. It was a way of life back then. People went to Africa for slaves because that’s where the market was. People also voluntarily sold themselves into slavery, it was like getting a job.
Not every slave was whipped and beaten. Many were treated like family. Many stayed and worked for their families after the civil war.
While Jefferson Davis was the leader of
the south he was morally against slavery, and taught his slaves to read and write- despite laws against it.
While there were absolutely horrors, it was not always the case.
This judgment of 200 years ago by today’s standards while ONLY pointing out the bad things ignores the fact that slavery existed for thousand of years.
The USA did not invent slavery- we ended it.